Brussels, 10/12/2007 (Agence Europe) - After the definitive breakdown of talks under the aegis of the international troika (EU, Russia and the United States) on the future status of Kosovo, the European Union is working towards a common position to accompany and recognise the “controlled and concerted” independence of Kosovo. Meeting on Monday 10 December for the “External Relations” Council, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the EU held a meeting behind closed doors with the European mediator in the troika, Wolfgang Ischinger, on the forthcoming crucial decisions that the EU must take, both on the future recognition of an independent Kosovo and the deployment of the police and rule of law mission. Initial discussions may be carried out as early as at the European Council this Friday 14 December, particularly on sending a civil police mission, but this will require the unanimous agreement of the Council. As for the recognition of Kosovo, the most likely scenario seems to be as follows: once Kosovo has declared its independence, at a date which remains to be determined by Pristina and in accordance with the international community, the EU will announce its agreement in principle to recognise this new State, but it will be up to the Member States to make individual announcements as to whether they will go along with this recommendation or not and, if they will, when.
The commitment of Kosovo's leaders, which was reiterated in Pristina on Monday, not to hurry into a unilateral declaration of independence, but to agree with the United States and the EU, did much to allay the fears of the Member States of the EU with the most misgivings about independence for the Serbian province without an agreement with Belgrade and a new resolution of the UN Security Council (Romania, Spain, Greece and Slovakia). With the exception of Cyprus, which is sticking to its guns, as it is concerned that a declaration of Kosovo's independence may be used as a precedent by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
When asked by the press, after the meeting, whether the EU already had a common position, the President-in-Exercise of the Council, Luis Amado, preferred to talk of a “process of convergence” which is underway. “Today, we have take an extra step on the road to convergence”, he said. (H.B.)